Michael Campbell wants to develop the mental edge to get his putting right. Picture / Reuters
LONDON - Michael Campbell has called in a familiar and eccentric figure to help end his struggle with the putter.
Campbell is working again with Belgian sports psychologist Jos Vanstiphout as the 2005 US Open champion continues the search for his first victory this year.
While his ball striking has
impressed, Campbell has grown increasingly frustrated with his putting. His concern peaked last week when his challenge at the British Open was snuffed out on the greens.
He eventually finished in a tie for 35th, 16 shots behind the winner, American Tiger Woods.
"Tee to green was pretty impressive and I think I finished second or third on the stats in greens in regulation," Campbell said of his British Open campaign.
"But when it came to putting, I was placed near the bottom of the stats table in 69th place of the 71 players competing at Hoylake [in last two rounds].
"That's not usually my game as I've felt I have always been a good putter."
Campbell called in Vanstiphout ahead of the Deutsche Bank Players Championship in Hamburg, Germany.
Campbell said: "Jos and I haven't worked together now for some time and maybe I was getting too technical with my stroke.
"I wanted to get more into the mental side of things. So I trust going back to work with Jos is going to help."
Vanstiphout, a former pop star and self-taught sports psychologist, worked with Campbell until the end of 2004 when the New Zealand No 1 chose to use the services of American performance consultant Bob Rotella to help with the mental aspect of his game.
Campbell is now back with Vanstiphout, who has helped the likes of South African Ernie Els and Ireland's Paul McGinley and Dane Thomas Bjorn.
- NZPA
